Updated: Deputy murdered

Mendocino County sheriff's Deputy Ricky Del Fiorentino was shot and killed in a spray of gunfire on March 19, sending shock waves throughout the Mendocino County community. The gunman was shot dead minutes later in a confrontation with police.

Fort Bragg area residents were particularly shaken by the loss. Del Fiorentino, 48, was a fixture in the Fort Bragg community, serving 10 years in the Fort Bragg Police Department and 16 years with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. Del Fiorentino was known as an active volunteer in the Fort Bragg community.

Del Fiorentino is survived by his parents, sister, wife and children. Memorial services are pending. Details will be posted as soon as they become available.

Sheriff Tom Allman said at 5 p.m. Wednesday he had already received calls offering condolences from Governor Jerry Brown, Attorney General Kamala Harris and many others.

"Anne and I were saddened to learn of the tragic death of Deputy Del Fiorentino today. Deputy Del Fiorentino was killed upholding the oath he swore: To protect his community. We extend our deepest condolences to Deputy Del Fiorentino's family, friends and coworkers and to the community of Fort Bragg," said Brown in a statement.

Brown ordered flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff. CalFire also ordered flags in the Mendocino County unit to be flown at half-staff.

"On behalf of the California Department of Justice, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Deputy Ricky Del Fiorentino. His tragic death is a stark reminder of the danger our brave men and women in law enforcement face every day to keep our communities safe. Deputy Del Fiorentino will never be forgotten by the people of California," said Harris in a written statement of condolence.

The shooting

Del Fiorentino was one of several Fort Bragg police, Mendocino County sheriff's deputies and officers of the California Highway Patrol searching for a black BMW on the outskirts of Fort Bragg Wednesday morning. The officer pulled into Park Drive, just west of Highway 1 north of Fort Bragg. Del Fiorentino's patrol vehicle apparently met the gunman's vehicle head on. The gunman riddled Del Fiorentino's vehicle with bullets from an assault rifle, killing Del Fiorentino instantly. Sheriff Tom Allman described it as an ambush.

The gunman was identified by police as Ricardo Anton Chaney, 32, of Eugene, Oregon.

Fort Bragg police Lt. John Naulty heard the gunfire and ran to the area. Naulty spotted Chaney searching Del Fiorentino's patrol vehicle, according to Allman. Chaney opened fire on Naulty; firing several shots from an assault weapon before Naulty returned fire with his, says Allman. Naulty pulled back from the confrontation to await backup. Chaney, who had a visible wound to his leg, was later found deceased near the battle zone. Investigators originally suspected the gunman committed suicide but Allman confirmed Thursday morning investigators now believe Chaney was killed in his gunfire exchange with Naulty.

At the time of the shooting, officers had conflicting reports that Chaney might have had an accomplice and a substantial search began to locate a second suspect.

The Willits community became well aware of the incident when scores of police vehicles from multiple agencies raced through town, turning towards the coast. The sirens alarmed many local residents. Willits Police Department sent three officers, including the city's only canine team, to help with the search.

Fort Bragg schools were locked down, Highway 1 was closed, MacKerricher State Park was evacuated and residents in the search area were notified by reverse 9-1-1 calls to remain inside with their doors and windows locked securely.

A Special Weapons and Tactics squad from Sonoma County with about 20 officers and a helicopter came to assist in the search.

By 4:30 p.m. officers concluded Chaney acted alone and the search was called off.

How it began (updated)

It now seems Chaney began the rampage that ultimately led to the murder of Del Fiorentino with the murder of a 79-year old man in Eugene Oregon. Chaney was known to the dead man's family.

(Updated) Eugene police were called to the burning home of a retired educator, George Bundy Wasson, 79, at 12:36 a.m. Wasson had been shot dead and then the house was set on fire. Chaney was considered a person of interest in the case. The Associated Press learned from Eugene police spokeswoman Melinda McLaughlin that Chaney was "more likely than not" the shooter.

Chaney then carjacked a black BMW in Eugene, Oregon at about 1:20 a.m. Wednesday morning about 5 miles from the Wasson home. Chaney forced the two men in the car into the trunk. The two men escaped from the trunk as Chaney began to drive away.

The next time Chaney surfaced was in a confrontation with the proprietor of the Confusion Hill business in Leggett at 10:30 a.m. It is at least a 9-hour nonstop drive from the site of the carjacking. Chaney walked into the Confusion Hill store with a shotgun concealed under his jacket. The proprietor confronted Chaney with a baseball bat, causing Chaney to drop the shotgun. The shotgun fired when it hit the floor and the proprietor retreated to a back room. Chaney then fired at the door to the back room and the proprietor returned fire with a pistol.

Chaney then left and began driving south at a high rate of speed, deciding for unknown reasons to take Highway 1 rather than to continue on Highway 101.

Mendocino County sheriff's Lt. Greg Stefani was driving northbound on Highway 1 near Westport to respond to the 10:34 a.m. Confusion Hill incident when a black BMW passed him going southbound at extreme speed. Stefani turned around and began chasing the BMW, calling for assistance from CHP and the Fort Bragg Police Department. The BMW reached speeds of 100 mph, according to Allman and Stefani lost sight of the vehicle about 10 miles later near the small town of Cleone. Fort Bragg police were prepared to intercept the racing vehicle at the northern city limits, but the car never arrived.

Law enforcement officers believed the BMW had driven off Highway 1 somewhere between mile marker 66 where Stefani lost sight of the car and the Fort Bragg city limits at mile marker 62. There are a series of private drives and streets branching off from Highway 1 between the two mile markers.

It was during the search of these drives and streets that Del Fiorentino drove into the ambush and was killed. Many persons monitoring the scanner traffic heard a call go out at 11:50 a.m. for an 11-99; the chilling police code for officer needs help immediately. This call prompted the major response by all local law enforcement agencies to rush toward the coast to help.

The man behind the gun

Chaney, who caused this local tragedy, was no stranger to police. He was arrested five times since 2002 for a variety of charges, based on Lane County, Oregon records. These arrests included weapons and assaults charges. Disposition of the cases was not able to be determined as of press time. His most recent arrest was on March 6 for possession of ecstasy, unlawful concealment or possession of firearms and driving without insurance. On March 6, police found body armor and firearms—included a modified AR-15 assault rifle in Chaney's vehicle, according to The Register-Guard of Eugene. Chaney was released from police custody the same day.